FaultScore

FaultScore report

1991 Honda Prelude problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1991 Honda Prelude with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the seat belts.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

18

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

4

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

1 complaint reports a death.

How 1991 compares with every other Honda Prelude

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1991 Honda Prelude

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 9 50.0%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 193,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 7 38.9%

0 crashes, 4 fires · median 98,500 mi

Equipment & Accessories 1 5.6%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 5.6%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 50.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 25.0%
150,000+ miles 1 25.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

May 1995 peak 2 Dec 2006

Recalls on the 1991 Honda Prelude

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1995086 423,467 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.

NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.

NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA Crash 3 injured 1 killed

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE CHP. CENTRAL DIVISION CHP M.A.I.T. WAS REQUESTED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT. UPON EXAMINATION SGT. ESMAY DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT WAS BEING WORN DUE TO THE SIGNS OF LOADING ON THE WEBBING AND LOOP GUIDE. THE WEBBING OF THE BELT SEPARATED NEAR THE LOOP GUIDE. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, DOUGLAS GUY VETCH, DOB 10/06/68, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FATAL VICTIM WAS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED QUOTED(50MPH)IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE BASED ON THE OBSERVED DAMAGE AND APPARENT COLLISION DYNAMICS. THIS COLLISION IS BEING REPORTED PER CHP POLICY. IT IS BEING REPORTED BY SGT. ESMAY AND NOT THE OWNER. REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SGT. ESMAY

NHTSA complaint #700165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willow Brook, 00 Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

VEHICLE INVOLVED IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH LAP/SHOULDER FAILED TO RETRACT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 129,000 miles Dale City, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10175919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Calabasas, CA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM FAILURE: EIGHT (8) DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS; FOUR (4) NEW COMPRESSORS AND COMPLETE SYSTEMS INSTALLED; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT (APPROX. $6,000.00); AND A/C REMAINS DEAD.*AK VEHICLE IS 1991 HONDA PRELUDE SI, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED NEW 7/22/91 FROM WOODLAND HILLS HONDA, 6111 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA., 91365. A/C PROBLEM BEGAN MAY, 1996 AT 68,000 MILES, AND LAST ATTEMPTED REPAIR ENDED OCTOBER, 2001 AT 142,000 MILES. WE HAVE FOUR (4) HONDA ACCORDS (1991 AND 93 MODELS), ALL OVER 160,000 MILES, WITH NO A/C PROBLEMS. THE BAD A/C SEEMS LIMITED TO PRELUDE ONLY. IT IS VERY HOT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. ON OCTOBER 10, 2001, WOODLAND HILLS HONDA RECOMMENDED ANOTHER COMPLETE A/C COMPRESSOR AND SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE, [XXX] (NOW GONE), STATED THERE WAS A " COMPLETE SYSTEM PROBLEM" AND ASKED HONDA REGIONAL HQ FOR HONDA AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WITHOUT CHARGE, OR TO SHARE THE COSTS. ASSISTANCE DENIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT-LIABILITY MANUFACTURING FAILURE SPECIFIC TO THE PRELUDE A/C SYSTEM AND THE COMPRESSOR IN PARTICULAR. WE SEE MANY PRELUDE DRIVERS WITH WINDOWS OPEN. WE DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE FOR WHAT WE THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX. DOES HONDA KNOW IT HAS BAD A/C COMPRESSORS IN PRELUDES AND IS IGNORING OR EVADING THE PROBLEM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10037160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Calabasas, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM FAILURE: EIGHT (8) DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS; FOUR (4) NEW COMPRESSORS AND COMPLETE SYSTEMS INSTALLED; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT (APPROX. $6,000.00); AND A/C REMAINS DEAD.*AK VEHICLE IS 1991 HONDA PRELUDE SI, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED NEW 7/22/91 FROM WOODLAND HILLS HONDA, 6111 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA., 91365. A/C PROBLEM BEGAN MAY, 1996 AT 68,000 MILES, AND LAST ATTEMPTED REPAIR ENDED OCTOBER, 2001 AT 142,000 MILES. WE HAVE FOUR (4) HONDA ACCORDS (1991 AND 93 MODELS), ALL OVER 160,000 MILES, WITH NO A/C PROBLEMS. THE BAD A/C SEEMS LIMITED TO PRELUDE ONLY. IT IS VERY HOT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. ON OCTOBER 10, 2001, WOODLAND HILLS HONDA RECOMMENDED ANOTHER COMPLETE A/C COMPRESSOR AND SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE, [XXX] (NOW GONE), STATED THERE WAS A " COMPLETE SYSTEM PROBLEM" AND ASKED HONDA REGIONAL HQ FOR HONDA AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WITHOUT CHARGE, OR TO SHARE THE COSTS. ASSISTANCE DENIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT-LIABILITY MANUFACTURING FAILURE SPECIFIC TO THE PRELUDE A/C SYSTEM AND THE COMPRESSOR IN PARTICULAR. WE SEE MANY PRELUDE DRIVERS WITH WINDOWS OPEN. WE DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE FOR WHAT WE THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX. DOES HONDA KNOW IT HAS BAD A/C COMPRESSORS IN PRELUDES AND IS IGNORING OR EVADING THE PROBLEM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10037160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 193,000 miles Marquette, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES ON ITS OWN AT ANY TIME. DEALER STATES THAT COIL CONNECTOR TERMINATOR NEEDS REPLACING.

NHTSA complaint #10031901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Florham Park, NJ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

THE HOOD HAD OPENED UP WHILE MY SON WAS USING THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRON GLASS, ROOF, LEFT SIDE MIRROR, LEFT SIDE DOOR AND LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER, AND HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #761825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Battle CRE, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE, AFTER SOME TIME THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE A USED ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER INSTALLATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RUN (HEAD GASKET, SHORT BLOCK, HEAD ASSEMBLY, TIMING BELT AND OIL PAN). NLM

NHTSA complaint #557457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.

NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.

NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA Crash 3 injured 1 killed

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE CHP. CENTRAL DIVISION CHP M.A.I.T. WAS REQUESTED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT. UPON EXAMINATION SGT. ESMAY DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT WAS BEING WORN DUE TO THE SIGNS OF LOADING ON THE WEBBING AND LOOP GUIDE. THE WEBBING OF THE BELT SEPARATED NEAR THE LOOP GUIDE. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, DOUGLAS GUY VETCH, DOB 10/06/68, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FATAL VICTIM WAS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED QUOTED(50MPH)IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE BASED ON THE OBSERVED DAMAGE AND APPARENT COLLISION DYNAMICS. THIS COLLISION IS BEING REPORTED PER CHP POLICY. IT IS BEING REPORTED BY SGT. ESMAY AND NOT THE OWNER. REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SGT. ESMAY

NHTSA complaint #700165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northport, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK AND WILL COME APART WHENEVER THE CONSUMER MOVES WHICH MAK'S THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #833333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ogden, UT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER NEVER STOPS, EVEN IF VEHICLE IS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #781763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodside, NY

SEAT BELTS

POWER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #604760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mays Landi, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #500972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamburg, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT APPEARS TO CLASP WHEN ENGAGED, HOWEVER SAFETY LIGHT GOES ON, NECESSITATING REENGAGEMENT UNTIL LIGHT GOES OUT.

NHTSA complaint #488840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willow Brook, 00 Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

VEHICLE INVOLVED IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH LAP/SHOULDER FAILED TO RETRACT. TT

NHTSA complaint #966601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denton, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

NEITHER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL LATCH. TT

NHTSA complaint #964911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.